لِمَن يَرى مَنطق لِلعَقلِ سَحّارُ

لِمَن يَرى مَنطق لِلعَقلِ سَحّارُ

ما فاه إِلّا وَحارَت فيهِ أَفكارُ

ما فاه إِلّا وَحارَت فيهِ أَفكارُ

To one who sees, his speech is an enchantment to the mind;

To anyone who perceives it, his speech bewitches the mind;

whenever he speaks, thoughts are bewildered by it.

never did he speak without thoughts being bewildered by it.

وافى إِلَيَّ كِتابٌ مِنهُ ذَكَّرَني

وافى إِلَيَّ كِتابٌ مِنهُ ذَكَّرَني

شَرخَ الصِبا حَيثُ دارُ اللَهو لي دارُ

شَرخَ الصِبا حَيثُ دارُ اللَهو لي دارُ

A letter from him came to me and reminded me

A letter from him reached me, reminding me

of youth’s abundance, when the abode of play was my home—

of the prime of youth, when the house of pleasure was my home,

أَيّامَ غُصنُ المُنى يُزهى بِنَضرَتِهِ

أَيّامَ غُصنُ المُنى يُزهى بِنَضرَتِهِ

وَالدَهرُ طَلقُ المُحيّا وَالهَوى جارُ

وَالدَهرُ طَلقُ المُحيّا وَالهَوى جارُ

days when the bough of hopes flourished in its freshness,

the days when the bough of wishes gloried in its freshness,

time wore a smiling face, and passion was my neighbor.

and Time wore a cheerful face, and love was a neighbor.

لا بَل كَزَهرِ الرُبى باتَت تُفَتِّحُه

لا بَل كَزَهرِ الرُبى باتَت تُفَتِّحُه

يَدُ الصِبا وَكَسَتهُ الوَشيَ أَمطارُ

يَدُ الصِبا وَكَسَتهُ الوَشيَ أَمطارُ

No—rather, like upland blossoms that the hand of youth

No—rather, like hillside blossoms, opened through the night

spent the night opening, while rains clothed them in brocade;

by youth's hand, and clothed in brocade by rains.

أَوِ الشَمولُ أَدارَتها شَمائِلُ مَن

أَوِ الشَمولُ أَدارَتها شَمائِلُ مَن

في رِيقِهِ العَذب لا في الخَمرِ إِسكارُ

في رِيقِهِ العَذب لا في الخَمرِ إِسكارُ

or like wine circulated by the graces of one

Or wine, passed around by the graces of one

whose sweet saliva—not wine—holds intoxication.

in whose sweet saliva—not in wine—lies intoxication.

في طَيِّهِ بَعدَ نَشرِ الشَوقِ أَسرارُ

في طَيِّهِ بَعدَ نَشرِ الشَوقِ أَسرارُ

لِلنَفسِ فيها مُنىً تُقضى وَأَوطارُ

لِلنَفسِ فيها مُنىً تُقضى وَأَوطارُ

Within its folds, once longing is unfolded, are secrets;

Within its folds, after longing is unfolded, lie secrets,

in it are hopes and desires fulfilled for the soul.

in which the soul's wishes and desires are fulfilled.

مِنها اِرتَشافي ثَغرَ الكاسِ وَسط رُبىً

مِنها اِرتَشافي ثَغرَ الكاسِ وَسط رُبىً

شَدَت عَلى دَرحِهِ المُخَضلِّ أَطيارُ

شَدَت عَلى دَرحِهِ المُخَضلِّ أَطيارُ

Among them: my sipping from the cup’s mouth amid hills

Among them, my sipping at the cup's mouth amid hills,

on whose rain-drenched boughs birds sang,

where birds sang upon its dew-drenched [tree].

في فِتيَةٍ كَالنُجومِ الزُهرِ سارَ بِها

في فِتيَةٍ كَالنُجومِ الزُهرِ سارَ بِها

بَدرٌ لَهُ في سَماءِ المَجدِ أَنوارُ

بَدرٌ لَهُ في سَماءِ المَجدِ أَنوارُ

among youths like radiant stars, journeying with whom

Among youths like radiant stars, with whom journeyed

was a full moon whose lights shine in glory’s heaven—

a full moon with lights in the sky of glory.

لاسِيَّما يَومَ نَثر الطَلُّ لُؤلُؤهُ

لاسِيَّما يَومَ نَثر الطَلُّ لُؤلُؤهُ

عَلى بِساطِ رُبى تَكسُوه أَزهارُ

عَلى بِساطِ رُبى تَكسُوه أَزهارُ

especially the day the dew scattered its pearls

Especially on the day the dew scattered its pearls

over a carpet of hills clothed in flowers,

upon a carpet of hills clothed by flowers,

في رَوضَةٍ سَحَراً غَنَّت بَلابِلُها

في رَوضَةٍ سَحَراً غَنَّت بَلابِلُها

وَكُلُّ أَوقاتِها لِلصَبِّ أَسحارُ

وَكُلُّ أَوقاتِها لِلصَبِّ أَسحارُ

in a garden where at dawn its nightingales sang,

in a garden whose nightingales sang before dawn,

while every hour of it is dawn-magic for the lover.

and all its hours are predawn hours for the lovesick lover.

وَالجَوُّ مُضطَرِبٌ وَالغَيثُ مُنسَكِبٌ

وَالجَوُّ مُضطَرِبٌ وَالغَيثُ مُنسَكِبٌ

وَالصَبُّ مُرتَقب وَالكَأسُ مِدرارُ

وَالصَبُّ مُرتَقب وَالكَأسُ مِدرارُ

The air is turbulent and the rain pours down;

The air is turbulent, and the rain pours down;

the lover waits expectantly and the cup flows lavishly.

the lover is expectant, and the cup pours freely.

فَقُم نُجَدّد عُهودَ الكَأسِ يا أَملي

فَقُم نُجَدّد عُهودَ الكَأسِ يا أَملي

فَلي إِلى الكَأس تحنانٌ وَتِذكارُ

فَلي إِلى الكَأس تحنانٌ وَتِذكارُ

Arise, my hope; let us renew our covenant with the cup,

So rise, my hope, and let us renew our pledges to the cup,

for I yearn for the cup and cherish its memory.

for I have yearning for the cup, and remembrance.

وَلُح لَنا عِندَ شَمسِ الراح بَدرَ عُلاً

وَلُح لَنا عِندَ شَمسِ الراح بَدرَ عُلاً

هالاتُهُ أَنجُمٌ مِنّا وَأَقمارُ

هالاتُهُ أَنجُمٌ مِنّا وَأَقمارُ

Appear to us beside wine’s sun, a full moon of loftiness,

And shine for us beside wine's sun, a full moon of glory,

its halos stars and moons from among us.

whose halos are stars and moons from among us.

وَاِسلَم وَدُم ما سَرى نَجمٌ وَما طَلَعَت

وَاِسلَم وَدُم ما سَرى نَجمٌ وَما طَلَعَت

شَمسُ الضُحى وَبَدا في الأُفق سَيّارُ

شَمسُ الضُحى وَبَدا في الأُفق سَيّارُ

Be safe and endure as long as a star journeys and

And be safe and endure, as long as a star journeys by night and there rises

the morning sun rises and a planet appears on the horizon,

the forenoon sun, and a wandering star appears on the horizon.

مُمَجّد المَجد مَغبوطُ المَقام كَما

مُمَجّد المَجد مَغبوطُ المَقام كَما

تَشاءُ تَجري بِما تَختارُ أَقدارُ

تَشاءُ تَجري بِما تَختارُ أَقدارُ

extolled in glory, blessed in station, while,

Exalted in glory, envied in station; as

as you wish, destinies run according to what you choose.

you wish, destinies unfold according to your choosing.

زُهر تُغازِلُها بِاللَحظِ أَزهارُ

زُهر تُغازِلُها بِاللَحظِ أَزهارُ

وَسط الرُبى أَم نَسيمُ الرَوضِ مِعطارُ

وَسط الرُبى أَم نَسيمُ الرَوضِ مِعطارُ

Radiant ones, courted by flowers with their glances—

Radiant stars that flowers woo with their glances

amid the hills—or is it the garden’s fragrant breeze?

amid the hills—or the garden's perfume-laden breeze?

أَم سَلسَلَ الراح بالماءِ القُراحِ لَها

أَم سَلسَلَ الراح بالماءِ القُراحِ لَها

أَشِعّةٌ في يَدِ الساقي وَأَنوارُ

أَشِعّةٌ في يَدِ الساقي وَأَنوارُ

Or has wine been blended with pure water, giving it

Or wine, made smooth with pure water, with

rays and lights in the cupbearer’s hand?

rays and radiance in the cupbearer's hand?

أَمِ اللّالئُ في سلك النِظامِ زَهَت

أَمِ اللّالئُ في سلك النِظامِ زَهَت

قَد نَظّمتها عَلى اللّبّات أَبكارُ

قَد نَظّمتها عَلى اللّبّات أَبكارُ

Or are they pearls gleaming upon the string of composition,

Or pearls that shone upon a necklace's thread,

arranged upon maidens’ throats?

which maidens have strung at their throats?

أَم نَظم مَن بَهَرَت آياتُ مَنطِقِهِ

أَم نَظم مَن بَهَرَت آياتُ مَنطِقِهِ

لِلناظِرينَ فَحارَت فيهِ أَبصارُ

لِلناظِرينَ فَحارَت فيهِ أَبصارُ

Or the verse of one whose signs of eloquence dazzled

Or the verse of one whose wondrous speech dazzled

beholders, leaving their eyes bewildered?

onlookers, so that eyes were bewildered by it?

الفاضِلُ الأَلمَعِي الفَهم لا بَرِحَت

الفاضِلُ الأَلمَعِي الفَهم لا بَرِحَت

لَهُ الشَبيبةُ دار وَالهَوى جارُ

لَهُ الشَبيبةُ دار وَالهَوى جارُ

The virtuous, astute, discerning man—may youth never cease

The virtuous, brilliant, discerning one—may there always remain

to be his home, nor passion his neighbor;

youth as his home, and love as his neighbor.

وَلا تَعطَّل سَعيُ الكاسِ مِن يَدِهِ

وَلا تَعطَّل سَعيُ الكاسِ مِن يَدِهِ

وَلا الطَوافُ لِتُقضى فيهِ أَعمارُ

وَلا الطَوافُ لِتُقضى فيهِ أَعمارُ

may the cup’s course from his hand never be halted,

And may the cup's passage from his hand never cease,

nor its circling, in which lifetimes are fulfilled.

nor its circling, so that lifetimes may be spent in it.

فَمُنذُ زَمزَم في ذاكَ المَقام صَفا ال

فَمُنذُ زَمزَم في ذاكَ المَقام صَفا ال

راووقُ وَزالَت وَقَد لَبيتَ أَكدارُ

راووقُ وَزالَت وَقَد لَبيتَ أَكدارُ

Ever since he murmured at that station, the

For since he murmured at that station, clear grew the

wine-filter cleared, and when you answered the call, cares departed—

wine-strainer, and the dregs vanished when you answered 'Here I am.'

في رَوضَةٍ جَرَحَت خَد الشَقيقِ بِها

في رَوضَةٍ جَرَحَت خَد الشَقيقِ بِها

عُيونُ نَرجِسِها وَالشُربُ نَظارُ

عُيونُ نَرجِسِها وَالشُربُ نَظارُ

in a garden where the eyes of its narcissi wounded

In a garden where the cheek of the anemone was wounded

the poppy’s cheek, while the drinkers gazed on.

by the eyes of its narcissi, while the drinkers looked on.

وَالزَهرُ مُبتَسِمٌ وَالطَلُّ مُنسَجِمٌ

وَالزَهرُ مُبتَسِمٌ وَالطَلُّ مُنسَجِمٌ

وَالريحُ مُنتَسِم وَالراحُ مِدرارُ

وَالريحُ مُنتَسِم وَالراحُ مِدرارُ

The flowers smile and the dew streams;

And the flowers smile, and the dew drips,

the breeze blows gently and the wine flows lavishly

and the wind wafts, and wine pours freely,

مِن كَفِّ ساقٍ كَبَدرِ التِمّ طَلعَتُهُ

مِن كَفِّ ساقٍ كَبَدرِ التِمّ طَلعَتُهُ

إِذا بَدَت تَختَفي في الأُفق أَقمارُ

إِذا بَدَت تَختَفي في الأُفق أَقمارُ

from the palm of a cupbearer whose face is like the full moon:

from the palm of a cupbearer whose face is like the moon at its fullest;

when it appears, moons hide along the horizon.

when it appears, moons vanish on the horizon.

عَذبُ المُقبّلِ مَعسولُ الرضابِ لَنا

عَذبُ المُقبّلِ مَعسولُ الرضابِ لَنا

في ريقِهِ العَذب لا في الخَمر إِسكارُ

في ريقِهِ العَذب لا في الخَمر إِسكارُ

Sweet to kiss, honeyed in saliva—for us,

Sweet to kiss, with honeyed saliva; for us,

in his sweet saliva, not in wine, lies intoxication—

intoxication lies in his sweet saliva, not in wine.

بِظلِّ أَفيح راقت فيهِ أَزهارُ

بِظلِّ أَفيح راقت فيهِ أَزهارُ

وَغَرّدت في رُبا مَغناه أَطيارُ

وَغَرّدت في رُبا مَغناه أَطيارُ

beneath spreading shade where flowers delighted

Beneath wide-spreading shade, where flowers delighted the eye,

and birds warbled upon the hills of its pleasure ground.

and birds warbled over the hills of his abode.

عَلا مَقاماً عَلى نَهرِ الأُبلّةِ إِذ

عَلا مَقاماً عَلى نَهرِ الأُبلّةِ إِذ

جَرَت خِلالَ رُباه الفيح أَنهارُ

جَرَت خِلالَ رُباه الفيح أَنهارُ

It rose in station above the river of al-Ubulla, when

It surpassed a dwelling on the river of al-Ubulla, when

rivers flowed through its spacious hills.

rivers flowed through its spacious hills.

وَهاكَها غادَةً لا عَيبَ نِيطَ بِها

وَهاكَها غادَةً لا عَيبَ نِيطَ بِها

كَما تَرى غَيرَ أَنّ الطَرفَ سَحّارُ

كَما تَرى غَيرَ أَنّ الطَرفَ سَحّارُ

Here she is, a maiden to whom no fault is attached,

And take her—a graceful maiden, with no fault imputed to her,

as you see—except that her glance is sorcery.

as you see, except that her glance is bewitching.

لَو أَنَّ مِهيار جاراها النَسيبَ لَما

لَو أَنَّ مِهيار جاراها النَسيبَ لَما

فاقَ الأُلى بِنَسيبِ الشِعر مِهيارُ

فاقَ الأُلى بِنَسيبِ الشِعر مِهيارُ

Had Mihyar rivaled her in love poetry, he would not

Had Mihyar vied with her in love poetry, he would not have

have surpassed his forerunners through love poetry—Mihyar.

surpassed the others in love verse—Mihyar.

فَدُم مُعاناً مُعين الدينِ ذا لَسَنٍ

فَدُم مُعاناً مُعين الدينِ ذا لَسَنٍ

عَذبَ المَقالِ لا خانَتكَ أَفكارُ

عَذبَ المَقالِ لا خانَتكَ أَفكارُ

Abide supported, Muʿīn al-Dīn, possessor of a tongue

So remain aided, Mu'in al-Din, endowed with eloquence,

sweet in utterance; may thoughts never fail you.

sweet in speech—may thoughts never betray you.